BTS is the native utility and governance token of the BitShares protocol. Created in 2014 , it uses a Proof-of-Stake algorithm and is an open source C++ blockchain. It also uses Graphene, which is a protocol itself, commonly implemented due to its ability to relay blocks across a blockchain network with low bandwidth usage. The BitShares blockchain can handle over 100,000 transactions per second making it a good system for financial services use cases, as it is faster than Visa and Mastercard combined. The blockchain is also built on Microsoft Azure’s Blockchain-as-a-Service product offering. Bitshares’ goal is to take the concept of Bitcoin removing the middleman for money transfers, and apply that to businesses which require intermediaries. For example, when you trade shares on a stock exchange, there is a monetary and digital signature transfer made which also comes with a middle man securing the transaction and making a profit. Other business functions the protocol is looking to take over are invoicing, digital assets, exchanges, mobile banking, multicurrency asset management, and secure loyalty systems. It boasts an impressive founding team of Dan Larimer (EOS co-founder) and Charles Hoskinson (Ethereum and Cardano co-founder).